[Saint John] Retail Thread - Page 22

MonctonRad · #**421** Posted **Oct 30, 2014, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

Their product is fantastic, but not $16/combo fantastic. You can get a similar burger in a sit-down restaurant for a tiny bit less.

I agree. I've eaten at Relish several times. Excellent product. The price point isn't quite right though.....

UptownJeff · #**422** Posted **Oct 30, 2014, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I agree. I've eaten at Relish several times. Excellent product. The price point isn't quite right though.....

In my opinion, they really need a better location and a better price point. Great food but they were in a poor spot....not a lot of walking traffic and too expensive for a family outing or the high school crowd. I hope the franchisor is reading this thread....market research people. As I've said before, there seems to be a lot of crossing your fingers and hoping going on with many stores in Saint John.

Walk then Run · #**423** Posted **Nov 2, 2014, 6:48 PM**

A new business, Level Up Laser Tag, will be opening up tomorrow in Lancaster Mall. This is an indoor laser tag arena for the kids (big and small) to enjoy all year round.

They also will have a retro 80's arcade (not too sure how many and what games), but it will definitely bring back memories of my youth in spending my paper route money on games like Double Dragon.

Check out their Facebook or Twitter account

RaginRonic · #**424** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 2:34 AM**

That arcade will be the 1st independent video arcade located in Saint John since the closure of the former Sparkles arcade in McAllister Place in mid-1999.

Saint John NEEDS at least ONE cool place for people to hang loose and play some games....just to have good, clean fun and Super Happy Time, you know?

=)

Ire Narissis · #**425** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 3:27 PM**

What vacant space in Lancaster Mall was big enough for a laser tag arena? That's pretty cool.

mmmatt · #**426** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

mid-1999.

This is exactly the thought I had haha...and the reason I'm not so sure on this one...but hey you never know...those "mom-jeans" from the 90's are coming back too!

Walk then Run · #**427** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 11:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

What vacant space in Lancaster Mall was big enough for a laser tag arena? That's pretty cool.

I have yet to see it for myself, but I would assume its the larger space across from Urban Planet. This space was usually used for H&R Block during tax season and before that the second hand / vintage home furnishings.

DreDay · #**428** Posted **Nov 7, 2014, 1:30 PM**

When did that arcade in Loch Lomond mall close up? Late 90's or early 2000's?

RR Drummer · #**429** Posted **Dec 22, 2014, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreDay

When did that arcade in Loch Lomond mall close up? Late 90's or early 2000's?

I believe in the late 90's.

Also...Driving by the parking lots today it looks like the usual Christmas rush is on with only a couple of shopping days left before Christmas. I'm hoping that the end of year push provides great results for all retailers.

JHikka · #**430** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 1:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RR Drummer

I believe in the late 90's.

Also...Driving by the parking lots today it looks like the usual Christmas rush is on with only a couple of shopping days left before Christmas. I'm hoping that the end of year push provides great results for all retailers.

I'm just avoiding the entire East Side this week. I'm used to traffic but Christmas traffic is terrifying because you get all sorts of crazy out and about.

Southpaw78 · #**431** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 8:26 PM**

So just heard news of the new NB Liqour store opening on Somerset. It looks huge! Are the closing the Lansdowne location?

JHikka · #**432** Posted **Dec 24, 2014, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southpaw78

So just heard news of the new NB Liqour store opening on Somerset. It looks huge! Are the closing the Lansdowne location?

Lansdowne will remain open. Somerset is being built in addition to the Lansdowne location.

CdnEh · #**433** Posted **Dec 29, 2014, 8:17 AM**

I'm surprised we haven't got a Jump+.

There's one in Moncton and Fredericton, and Saint John is STILL without an Apple authorized repair dealer.

Last time my Mac broke I had to drive all the way to Moncton just to drop it off for warranty repairs. Especially inconvenient considering Apple doesn't do the whole "ship it to us for repairs" thing.

UptownJeff · #**434** Posted **Dec 30, 2014, 11:23 PM**

I see Aitkens Pewter closed their store in brunswick square. I was speaking to a staff member and she alluded that they may be reopening in a new spot.....maybe some shared space. She mentioned the economy and high rent. Shame to see another empty store.

RaginRonic · #**435** Posted **Dec 31, 2014, 11:44 AM**

Some news related to the Kennebecasis Valley, perhaps not much of a shock...

http://country94.ca/news/711616993/kv-cinemas-will-close

Quote:

The movie theatre in the KV is closing next month.

Cineplex confirming to CHSJ News the Rothesay theatre will close after the last screening on Sunday, January 18th.

Communications Director Michael Langdon tells us its become difficult to provide the type of experience they aim to provide so when the lease came up for renewal they chose to focus on the Saint John location.

All Rothesay employees have been offered positions at other locations.

To me, this is just a simple case of the bigger location getting the focus, and the KV location was only duplicating a small amount of what Cineplex Saint John has been doing.

That, and Cineplex Saint John is in the East Side Retail Zone, where more traffic happens. The KV cinema, frankly, is a bit out of the way.

Walk then Run · #**436** Posted **Dec 31, 2014, 10:29 PM**

Darn it! This must mean that us westsiders won't be getting a movie theater

There goes the dream of never having to go east for anything again!

JHikka · #**437** Posted **Jan 1, 2015, 6:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

To me, this is just a simple case of the bigger location getting the focus, and the KV location was only duplicating a small amount of what Cineplex Saint John has been doing.

Yep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walk then Run

Darn it! This must mean that us westsiders won't be getting a movie theater

There goes the dream of never having to go east for anything again!

I know you're being facetious but what's up with Saint John being so regionalized? I know it's a big city but we're all in this together and this whole East v. West v. North v. South thing does nothing positive for the city as a whole. I know you're joking but I also know there are people west who despise having to cross a bridge and think their entire lives should be serviced solely on the Westside.

RaginRonic · #**438** Posted **Jan 1, 2015, 4:22 PM**

Some news concerning Brunswick Square, the heart of The Inside Connection...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/brunswick-square-shopping-centre-up-for-sale-1.2887871

Quote:

The Brunswick Square Shopping Centre in Saint John has a new item on sale: itself.

Fortis Inc., the parent company of Fortis Properties, has decided to put all its assets up for sale, including Brunswick Square.

The busy square houses shops, offices and a hotel. Gerry Lowe, a local councillor, said losing it would be devastating.

"We would be minus conventions. We would be minus so many things here because there's not enough room to put the people in,” he said.

“The Delta and the Hilton feed everything into the pedway and we have our things off the pedway. So we would be hurt really bad."

Losing it would cause problems for the whole city, he said.

"It's probably one of the biggest fears I have in 2015 with the city. The city of Saint John needs two large central hotels. The Hilton itself can't survive without having the Delta there."

Nora Duke, the CEO of Fortis Properties, has said the future of Brunswick Square, including the Delta Hotel, would be up to the new owner.

New owners could bring more businesses

Nancy Tissington, the executive director of Uptown Saint John, said having new owners could be a good thing. Her biggest concern is filling up empty retail space and making it a place people want to shop.

"Fill those spaces that are there or maybe reconfigure it and think about bringing in some larger conglomerates into the area. That might be helpful as well," she said.

"I think it's important to fear not. Change is inevitable in an uptown and a downtown. But to embrace it and to see how we can come together as a community to make is successful."

I'd LOVE if Cadillac Fairview could get their hands on that mall.

mmmatt · #**439** Posted **Jan 2, 2015, 2:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

Cadillac Fairview

No chance of that...they are focusing on only "higher end" malls now...I'm surprised they even kept Champlain Place which is most likely their "lowest end" mall currently.

RaginRonic · #**440** Posted **Jan 2, 2015, 8:49 AM**

You know, I just thought of something about Brunswick Square's interior that might help out it's Atrium.

As we know, there are 2 escalators that hang over the Atrium there. But that is something that I've discovered is an impediment to what can happen with that part of Brunswick Square.

So, my mind came up with this solution. Instead of there being escalators there, of which, frankly, the 2nd-3rd floor one always freaked me out ( @.@ ), why not have, on all 4 corners of the Atrium, elevators installed, that would allow for the Atrium to be opened up better?

That mall could then have larger functions happen in it, and allow for proper stage concerts on that floor, where the stage would be set up at any point between the different elevators?

Plus, there's also the elevators at the entry points beside Mother Nature's, plus near Lawton's, so, to me, those escalators wouldn't really be needed in that case.

Good idea?